A big STEEMIT Welcome to you Linda,
We are all happy that you are here! (But 99.99999% of us don't realize it yet)
I see you came over from YouTube(or... you have an online presence there). You may consider putting a comment on your latest video... or do a video about joining Steemit so that we can verify your account(Yes, sorry, reality check.... people will hijack other people's online persona's...If you can verify, we will know we can support you 100%)
You might consider doing the photo verification where you write your steemit name and something like "New to Steemit" with the date, and hold it for a photo that you post here. That is another 'verifier' step.
I have a few tips for you......:
find a community. Maybe join the @minnowsupport project.
comment and follow other's articles for your first 1-4 months here more than you do your own posts. This will actually help you to gain Followers. And improve and refine your Posting style(by seeing other's good examples and bad examples).
don't plan to get rich. If you come for money, it will probably be a struggle.
it will still be a struggle when you are new.... for 2 or 3 months. As you meet more steemians and ask questions and figure things out, it will get easier.
only Post original work. Many new Steemians get into trouble when they copy and paste things from Google or from the internet, AND IT IS NOT their photo, writing or work. IF you can't post your own things, better not post. Since you have other Social Media presence, be sure to give citation and mention when you CROSS-Publish something. Otherwise @cheetah will get suspicious!
comment and make friends, but don't ask "Follow me" or "please Upvote me" Maybe after you have become friends... maybe. But never as your first, second or third comment to them. Never!
have fun!
I am a community volunteer. I try to stop SPAM and trash and things that hurt Steemit. IF you see anything like that, please feel free to let me know, I will look into it!
Thank you so much for that and all the helpful info! I did a bunch of research and reading before posting but missed the verify step. I'll be sure to do that ASAP